Man City first team stars Bernardo Silva and Ederson were also products of the Lisbon giants' conveyor belt of youth that keeps on producing superstars destined for the top

By Jon Boon

7th May 2019, 7:00 am

SHOULD teen sensation Joao Felix move to Man United in the summer, he'll be the latest success story to have been raised the Benfica way who has gone on to achieve a dream move.

The Portuguese side, the most decorated team in their country, have become a feeder club for Europe's giants, with Man City stars including Bernardo Silva and Ederson coming off their famed conveyor belt of talent.

The software for the 360S simulator allows training to be modified depending on the player's position and attributes he needs

EDUCATION COMES FIRST

Manners maketh man, and that's exactly what Benfica expect from their players coming through the ranks.

That's why their academy has a partnership with a local school in the Seixal area, where the campus is based, and the starlets receive an academic education alongside their footballing one.

On top of that, 30 of the prospects live with host families in the surrounding community who aid the in the development process.

Nascimento said: “The mission of Benfica’s academy is to guarantee the quality of technical training and educational enrichment of its players, of all age groups, with a focus on the integration into the clubs first team, promoting human values such as respect, responsibility, solidarity, justice and tolerance.”

IT'S A MONEY-MAKER

In recent years, Benfica have sold nearly £500m worth of talent - most of them homegrown - to the world's biggest football clubs.

Ederson, who went to Portugal as a 15-year-old boy from the favelas of São Paulo, played just 56 times for the club before Pep Guardiola paid £35m for the shotstopper during the 2017 preseason - a then record fee for a keeper.

The mission of Benfica’s academy is to guarantee the quality of technical training and educational enrichment of its players, of all age groups, with a focus on the integration into the clubs first team, promoting human values such as respect, responsibility, solidarity, justice and tolerance.”

Silva, who City added to their ranks that same year for a cost of £43.5m from Monaco, spent 11 years in Benfica's academy before the French side bought him for £14m in 2015.

Then there was the curious case of ex Swansea misfit, Sanches. Bayern Munich splashed £27.5m on the prodigious midfielder when he was just 19 years old after he had spent 10 years at Caixa Futebol Campus.

And there's more. Andre Gomes, who has been one of Everton's best performers this term, made 14 appearances in three seasons in Portugal, before Valencia signed him for £12m in 2014 as a 21-year-old.

Barcelona's marauding right-back Nelson Semedo was also a Benfica boy wonder before the La Liga giants paid £30m for him.

While another Premier League name, Victor Lindelof joined Man United for £30.75m at the insistence of Jose Mourinho after spending five years in Lisbon, making 44 first team appearances.

THE CURRENT CROP

Currently sitting top of the Primeira Liga, Benfica are on course to lift their 37 title.

European failure, first in the Champions League (where they were faced with a difficult group that featured Bayern Munich and Ajax), and then in the Europa League quarter-final hasn't dampened their spirits.

In fact, it's given a new crop of players full of youthful swagger the opportunity to showcase their skills at the highest level.

MEDICAL KIT

Pie Addick

Grasping that chance with both hands has been the excellent Joao Felix, who is drawing comparisons to Portugal legend Rui Costa, and rose from the Benfica youth set-up.

His form, including 18 goals in all competitions, has meant the Red Devils are considering triggering the 19-year-old's £100m release clause.

While 21-year-old defender Ruben Dias, who has already appeared nine times for his country, is also being watched avidly by United scouts. Should they both move, you can be rest assured that Benfica's coffers will swell once again.